Austin City Council approves Brian Manley as permanent police chief

Brian Manley is now officially the permanent police chief of the Austin Police Department.

Author:
Chelsea Cunningham, Kalyn Norwood

Published:
9:56 AM CDT June 14, 2018

Updated:
7:10 PM CDT June 14, 2018

AUSTIN — AUSTIN -- It's official.

Brian Manley will no longer carry the title Interim Austin Police Chief after a unanimous vote by the City Council Thursday morning to approve him as the city's permanent police chief. The agenda item focusing on Manley was spearheaded by City Manager Spencer Cronk June 8.

“It’s almost surreal," said Manley. "I am honored by my selection to serve as the permanent chief. I’ve obviously got the support of a great department. I appreciate the process that we went through for the selection of the police chief here in Austin and we’ve got worked to do.”

Manley said APD is the first and only police department he's worked for. He started back in 1990.

"To have this opportunity to serve as the police chief of the department you grew up in, these men and women of the department are my family, this community is my home and the community members are my extended family," said Manley.

Many in the community stand behind the city council's decision.

“He’s a great police chief," said Nelson Linder, Austin NAACP president. "He’s very well qualified, most folks respect him and he has credibility among his officers to get things done."

While most in the room were in favor of Manley becoming chief, before the vote some in the audience came forward and addressed their issues with the process. Some were upset that there wasn't a broad search done for the position.

Cronk nominated Manley as the sole candidate for the position and said that Manley has received positive feedback from the Austin community, which has labeled him as a "trustworthy leader."

Manley told Cronk that as chief he would focus on making sure Austin remains one of the safest cities in the country and improving the transparency between the police department and the community.

Manley, 50, who was named interim chief in December 2016 after former Police Chief Art Acevedo departed for Houston, has been with the agency since 1990 and has served in a number of leadership roles in various departments.

He is the first chief in a decade to receive the position after working his way up through the department's ranks.

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo tweeted their congratulations to Manley after the City Council announcement.

Congratulations to @chief_manley on his unanimous confirmation as @Austin_Police Chief. Here’s to the future my friend, your work and personal ethics is a point of pride for all who know you and work with you. The work is never finished. #RelationalPolicing